Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Leo B. Tudela speaks during a CPA Board Seaport Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday.
DESPITE Rota Terminal & Transfer’s lack of business license, the Commonwealth Ports Authority last week allowed RT&T’s subcontractor, International Bridge & Construction Marianas Inc., to use its crane to unload a public school bus at the Rota seaport.
Earlier this year, ICBM suspended its crane services to RT&T due to non-payment of at least $100,000 of the $200,000 owed to ICBM by RT&T.
On Friday last week, RT&T office manager Viola Hocog-Atalig informed CPA Executive Director Leo Tudela that Tinian Shipping Services owner Jack Manglona Jr. had to make a port call at Rota West Harbor on June 29, 2024.
Tinian Shipping was transporting from Saipan a brand new school bus for the students of Sinapalo Elementary School and Dr. Rita Hocog-Inos Junior/Senior High School.
Atalig said she had to tell Manglona that RT&T “cannot accept any incoming vessel that will be needing stevedore service from our company at this time until the renewal of [our] business license is completed and ready for us to continue providing our service.”
She also told Tudela that Tinian Shipping asked about a temporary subcontract with IBCM so that the shipping company could unload the cargo at the Rota seaport.
Atalig asked the CPA executive director to extend for 30 days RT&T’s subcontract with IBCM so stevedoring services could be provided to Tinian Shipping.
On the same day, Tudela issued an extension notice allowing RT&T to continue its subcontract with IBCM but only up to July 11, 2024. He also reminded RT&T President Victor B. Hocog about the $1,920 that RT&T owed CPA. Tudela said the payment was 30 days and beyond past due.
During the CPA Board Sea Port Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday morning, Tudela said the school bus was needed for a school summer event on Rota.
After consulting with CPA legal counsel Greg Cenac, Tudela said he decided to grant RT&T’s request to extend its subcontract with IBCM “for the benefit of the students.”
Tudela said he made the decision “in the interest of the people.”
CPA Board Vice Chairman Antonio Cabrera, however, noted that “we are allowing a company to operate on our premises and conduct business without a business license. That is a liability for CPA and the board. That is my concern.”
If an accident occurred at the Rota seaport, it would be our fault, he added.
Tudela said before he issued the extension notice, IBCM President Robert W. Toelkes assured him that IBCM had a business license and insurance.
The committee met on Wednesday to make a recommendation to the board regarding RT&T’s lease agreement with CPA.
Cabrera said “any discussion on the lease agreement is moot because the company we are allowing to do business on our property has no business license.”
For his part, board member Thomas P. Villagomez said he was concerned about the extension of RT&T’s subcontract with IBCM. He asked the committee chairman, Ramon Tebuteb, that they go on executive or closed-door session so they could discuss legal and other issues.
IBCM office manager Elizabeth Bishaw, who attended the committee meeting, said they had not heard from RT&T about the money it owes IBCM.
